Apparatus for coaling ships.



, Patent-ed Nov. 25-, I902 F. V. MATTON.

APPARATUS ma COALINGSHIIPSZ.

. (Application filed Apr. 29,. 1902.) (No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet WITNESSES:

INVENTOR:

Tn: norms sums c u. PHOTO-Unit), wAsmNGTcvm nfc.

' No. 714,499. v k 'Patentad Nov. 25, I902.

, V F. v. MATTON.

APPARATUS-FOR COALING SHIPS.

' A ucaeion filed. Apr. 29, more.)

(No' Ilodei.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2'.

FIG. 5.

. WITNESSES: INVENTOR':

Patented Nov. 25, I902. F. V. MATTON.

APPARATUS FOR COALING SHIPS.

(Application filed Apr. 29, 1902\ N0 Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG; 4

| J EINVENTOR:

WITNESSES:

No. "7l4,499 Patented Nuv. 25, I902.

F. V. MATTON.

APPARATUS FOR BOALING SI-IIPS.

(Application mad Apr. 29, 1902.)

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

INVENTOH: M ff/ 45;

WITNESSES: $4M

m. "7|4,499. Patented Nov, '25, I902.

' .F. V. MATTON. APPARATUS FOR CUALING SHIPS. (Application filed Apr. 29, 1902.) (No Model.) I 5 Sheis-Sheet 5'.

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WITNESSES: /INVENTOR= 'f/ i,

Tn: Noam. hams m. vncro-umn, WAFiK-N'ZYGMD c "UN ME I FREDERICK V. MATTON, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR COALING SHIPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 714,499, dated November 25, 1902.

Application filed April 29, 1902.

application of my invention; but it must be understood that I do not, therefore, limit my claims to such method of use, since the device may be advantageously employed under many other circumstances,

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents, conventionally, in elevation a battle-ship and a collier abreast of one another with the apparatus arranged for coaling. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing in plan the arrangement which is depicted in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic View illustrating a collier in tow of a war vessel with an arrangement of the coaling devices adapted to this situation. Fig. 4 is an enlarged'view showing, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, certain members of the group of devices at the transmitting end of the systemv e., on board the collier. Figs. 5 and b are views, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section, of members of the transmitting group supplementing those members which are shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of the devices at the receiving end of the system 6., on board the battle-ship.

The characteristic feature of my invention is the transmission of coal by means of a stream of water, the principle of operation being in some respects analogolis to the conveyance of solid material by powerful dredging apparatus.

For purposes of illustration I have shown the apparatus as provided with special or individ ual engines for supplying the requisite power; but it will be of course obvious that the same result could be obtained by employing the ordinary auxiliary engines or motors of any character with which the collier or other supplying agent may be equipped. I

Serial No. 105|152. (No model.)

have also indicated a type of apparatus at the receiving end of the line of such character that it may be conveniently carried by the collier and floated across to the war vessel when the latter is about to be coaled; but it is obvious that this adjunct might form a portion of the regular equipment of the receiving vessel.

Referring now to the general views shown in Figs. 1 and 2, A indicates a collier, and B a war vessel, which are placed in communication by means of a flexible hose 0, suspended between them upon a rope or chain 0 of sufficient strength to sustain the weight of the parts and also the strain due to the motion of the vessels if they are moving abreast, which is the position indicated in these two figures.

In Fig. 3 the hose 0 is.represented as suspended upon a hawser G which forms the tow-line connecting the two vessels.

Referring now to the devices at the trans mitting end of the line, Fig. 4 represents a pair of engines D and D, whose shaftsdand d are adapted to drive, respectively, the centrifugal pumps E and E, conveniently mounted upon the deck a of the collier ad- .jacent to the rail a. The pump E is provided with an intake 6, which extends overboard into the water, as shown in Fig. 6, and the delivery-pipe e of said pump leads to a tank F, resting upon the deck of the vessel between the pumps E and E, said tank having an inclined bottom, as indicated by the site to that at which the delivery-pipe e is situated. The outboard side of said tank (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4) is somewhat lower than the other three sides in order that the surplus water of the tank may contake-pipe e of the pump E leads from the lower portion of the tank Fat the end toward which the bottom f slopes. The deliveryorifice e of the pump E leads to a swiveled connection 6 having auniversal joint, as indicated at 6 and is connected at (2 with the hose 0. At the receiving end oftheline said hose terminates in a similar universal joint and swivel connection G, from which a delivery-pipe g, secured to the side of the vessel or tank by brackets g, leads inboard,

veniently be discharged overboard. The int dotted line f, sloping toward the end oppoterminating in an overhanging discharge G. Beneath said discharge is a tank II, having a double-inclined bottom, as shown at h h in dotted lines, and an overflow 71.2 on the outboard side. This tank may conveniently be provided with a water-tight door II, leading to that portion which is beneath the inclined bottom 77., where space is afforded for an electric motor I, which may thus be conveniently contained within the tank.

The purpose of the water-tight door H is to permit the floating of the tank and its contents across from one vessel to the other if, as above stated, said tank is to form part of the equipment of the collier as distinguished from being permanently on board the receiving vessel. Said motor drives, by means of a belt 2' and pulleyj, an endless traveling conveyer J, which extends down into the tank H and is adapted to remove coal therefrom. The incoming portion of the conveyer may conveniently be led through an inclosed channel K, so as to prevent interference with the action of the conveyer by the coal falling upon it from above, the blades or scoops of the conveyer taking up the material upon the sloping bottom h and jamming being prevented at the lower pulley J by the shield which the sloping bottom h affords.

The operation of the device is as follows: The two vessels having been placed in communication by means of the hose C, the pump E is actuated and continuously forces a stream of water into the tank F at the transmitting end of the line, and coal is also continuously fed into said tank at such a rate as is appropriate to the capacity of the pump E. The coal falls upon the sloping bottom fand is forced toward the intake 8 both by gravity and by the descending stream of water from the delivery-pipe 6, so that the mingled coal and water are taken up by the suction of the pump E and forced through the hose to the'receiving end of the line, where the coal is discharged into the tank H and is thence removed from said tank by the conveyer J. I have not attempted to indicate the method of disposal of the coal upon its reaching the deck of the receiving vessel, since obvious methods of handling may be employed.

The above apparatus affords means for rapidly coaling vessels without the difficulties which are attendant upon those of the overhead conveying apparatus heretofore employed for coaling at sea. The troubles due to rolling, pitching, or change of the relative position of the two vessels are minimized by the use of the improvements which I have above described, the organization being such I believe to be an obvious embodiment of the invention; but my claims are not to be taken as limited by the use of incidental language appropriate to the embodiment. Thus, for instance, in speaking of the supplying vessel and receivingvessel, I mean to comprehend any structures, nautical or otherwise, from which and to which, respectively, the coal is transmitted. So, also, in mentioning the actuating mechanism, which in the above specification is illustrated as individualized, I do not mean to exclude theuse of other devices for supplying power, and in using the term hose I mean to comprehend any conduit adapted to lead from the transmitting to the receiving system and capable of acting as a channel of communication between the two.

In using the term tank to indicate the member which directly contains the coal I mean to comprehend any receptacle situated on the intake side of the pump which is adapted to perform such function.

I claim 1. The combination, of a supplying vessel; a coal-supply tank located thereon; a waterdischarging device leading into said tank; a suction-pump having its intake connected with said tank; a hose connected with the outlet of said suction-pump; actuating mechanism for said water-supplying device and said pump; and a discharging device at the receiving vessel, substantially as described.

2. The combination, of a supplying vessel; a coal-supply tank located thereon and having a sloping bottom; a pipe arranged to deliver water to said tank; a suction-pump leading from said tank; a hose having a jointed connection with the delivery-orifice of said pump; a discharge-pipe for said hose located at the receiving vessel; a receivingtank adjacent to said discharge-pipe; and a conveyer arranged within said receivingtank, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 28th day of April, A. D. 1902.

FREDERICK V. MATTON.

IVitnesses:

JAMES H. BELL, O. BRADFORD FRALEY. 

